The sound of silence: hearing loss

By the time we reach our fifties, more than half of us will have some degree of hearing loss. But don’t put it all down to age or your concert-going past. Check out these possible causes…

Are your ears clogged?

Research in the USA found that one in 20 adults a year go to their doctor for earwax to be removed. It can take years for the wax to build up enough to deafen us. But if water gets in, when you're swimming or showering, this can cause wax to swell - causing sudden deafness. Fortunately, the problem will be resolved immediately when your ears are cleared.

Solve it: Soak a cotton wool ball in equal parts of white vinegar and alcohol, tip your head up, gently dab the ear, and then tilt it back down to drain. Don't use cotton buds; you're likely to push wax deeper, causing impaction. See your doctor if your clogged ear is causing dizziness, pain and a feeling of fullness in your ear, for the blockage to be medically cleared.

Could you have an allergy?

Blocked sinuses, caused by colds and allergies, can cause temporary hearing loss if the Eustachian tube (the channel that regulates ear pressure) swells shut, sucking fluid into the ear space.

Solve it: Check out any apparently recurring cold - it could be allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Adults average three colds a year, each lasting ten days. More than that is a sign there's something else going on. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best treatments.

Are you overdoing the painkillers?

High doses of aspirin or ibuprofen can cause tinnitus — an irritating noise in the head - and they can also temporarily disable the ear's protective outer hair cells, so you're more vulnerable to sound damage.

Solve it: If you notice ringing in your ears after starting these medicines, switch to paracetamol, which doesn't affect the ears. The tinnitus should go straight away.

Do you live a noisy life?

High-decibel damage to our ears often occurs in our own homes. The safe volume threshold is 85 decibels, but a typical hairdryer can reach 95dB, and even your coffee grinder or blender can exceed 88dB. A lawnmower may reach 90dB, and an iPod set at 50 per cent volume reaches 101dB*.

Solve it: Cut the amount of time you spend drying your hair or shop around for a low-noise hairdryer, or wear ear plugs to reduce your risk. Wear ear muffs when you cut the lawn, and muffle your blender's belt-out by wrapping a tea towel round the base where the motor is. Limit your personal stereo use to an hour a day, and keep it on a low volume.

Tip: If you're struggling to hear a conversation, lean in with your right ear &mdash it sends messages to your left brain, which is better at following rapid speech rhythms.

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